James Madison

James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth (1809–1817) President of the United States. He was co-author, with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, of the Federalist Papers, and is traditionally regarded as the Father of the United States Constitution.

Federalist Papers

To support Constitutional ratification in New York State, Madison put aside his doubts to work with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to write the Federalist Papers, which are considered the definitive contemporary commentary on the United States Constitution. Madison's arguments were powerfully influenced by the political thought of Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu.

Related Topics:
Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - Federalist Papers - United States Constitution - Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu

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Madison wrote thirty of the eighty-five essays that comprise the Federalist Papers, including perhaps the two most famous, Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51. His most famous passage comes in No. 51:

Related Topics:
Federalist No. 10 - Federalist No. 51

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:"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In forming a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

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In 1801, in his first Inaugural Address, Thomas Jefferson would express a similar sentiment:

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:"Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."

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